By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Jan 21: In the eye of a planner an unplanned Guwahati is horrible, spelling a disaster every now and then. This statement is backed by a set of disaster statistics of greater Guwahati (Kamarup Metro) for three consecutive years – 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The city has as many as eight fire and emergency service stations – Guwahati Fire and Emergency Service Station at Panbazar, Chandmari Fire and Emergency Service Station, Dispur Fire and Emergency Service Station, Pandu Fire and Emergency Service Station, Lokhra Fire and Emergency Service Station, North Guwahati Fire and Emergency Service Station, Sopur Fire and Emergency Service Station and Chandrapur Fire and Emergency Service Station. According to statistics obtained from Fire and Emergency Services, in 2014 the fire and emergency service stations in the city received as many as 726 fire calls, leading to loss of 45 lives, including other form of disasters. In the year eight lives were saved in those disasters, besides injury to 6 lives.
The statistics saw a slight improvement in 2015 when as many as 604 fire calls were received, and the number of lives lost in fire and other disasters being 39. While four lives were saved, two were left injured.
The statistics depicts a grim situation in 2016 when the number of fire calls received rose to as many as 625, leading to loss of 48 lives in fire and other disasters. The number of lives saved in the incidents was 15, and the number of injured rose to five.
In 2016 Guwahati Fire and Emergency Service station received 248 fire calls against 121 by Chandmari Fire and Emergency Service Station, 71 by the one at Dispur, 52 by the one at Pandu, 62 by the one at Lokhra, 36 by the one at North Guwahati, 27 at the one at Sopur and eight by the one at Chandrapur.
According to sources in the Fire and Emergency Services, Assam, most of the fire incidents occur in the city due to lack of precautiory measures. Sources said that the existing high-rise buildings in the city have no fire-fighting devices. Many schools and hospitals in the city also do not have firefighting devices. Even in many government officials, the firefighting devices have been lying defunct.
Special DGP and Director of Fire and Emergency Service AP Rout said: “Lack of awareness even makes the existing rules toothless. People go for insurance, but stop short of keeping a few fire extinguishers ready. A fire tender carries 5,000-8,000 litres of water that is emptied within three-five minutes when used. It is mandatory for all high-rises to make provisions for water reservoirs, pump sets and other requirements. It is always blamed that fire tenders reach late. However, it is also not sure who telephone the fire tenders and how accurately the location of the disaster is briefed. We want call even for a minor fire incident. Let firefighters come back without having to do anything worthwhile in cases of minor fire incidents. We want the people to be aware of such disasters. Why don’t people present fire extinguishers to their friends and relatives in Diwali and other such occasions, instead of gifting other presentations?”